What's Happening in Kirkland, WA…

The Kirkland City Council recently saw two proposed designs for the I-405 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station, located in Kirkland at Northeast 85th Street.
More than two dozen different concepts were studied by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and staff members of Sound Transit, before the final two were chosen.

The first design was the original, which keeps the cloverleaf-style interchange, where 85th Street passes under the freeway. Steep and lengthy pedestrian bridges would span the ramps to the freeway, and lead to the station, which would sit at the same level as the freeway.

The second is known as a ‘separated transit interchange’, and would comprise three levels. The I-405 freeway would be on the top level, while access to the toll lanes, bicycle and pedestrian paths, stops for local buses, and the BRT station would be on the second level. The third level down would carry 85th Street's traffic.

A video simulation of a pedestrian walking from the local bus to transit stops using the new design can shave up to eight minutes off the walk. The new interchange is also less expensive, with construction scheduled to finish in 2024.

Matters like this can affect a number of residents, so officials might want to work with a flyer printing company on a mailer explaining the new construction and its benefits, and target the mail to the local area.